DLI Scheme-Backed Chip Design Startups Continue to Attract Interest from Leading Investors

India’s semiconductor chip design ecosystem is steadily strengthening, with startups supported under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme drawing growing interest from both investors and the user community. Semiconductor ventures traditionally involve long development timelines, substantial R&D investment and higher technical risk before revenues begin, often making early-stage investors cautious — and consequently, prior to 2021, venture capital investment in this sector in India remained limited.